Compositions for powder coatings containing acrylate polymers or esters of fluorinated fatty acids as flow control agents

ABSTRACT

POWDER COATING COMPOSITIONS ARE DISCLOSED. IN GENERAL, INDIVIDUAL POWDER COATING COMPOSITIONS ARE A MIXTURE OF THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS. A COPOLYMER OF GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE AND AN ETHYLENICALLY UNSATURATED COMPOUND IS FORMED IN SUCH PROPORTIONS AS TO OBTAIN A COPOLYMER WITH A GLASS TRANSITION TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF 40* C. TO 90*C. AND A MOLECULAR WEIGHT ($N) IN THE RANGE OF 2500 TO 8500. THE GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE IS PRESENT IN THE COPOLYMER FROM AT LEAST ABOUT 8% BY WEIGHT TO NO MORE THAN ABOUT 30% BY WEIGHT. ANOTHER MATERIAL OF THE COATING COMPOSITION IS A CROSS LINKING AGENT CONTAINING 90 TO 98% BY EQUIVALENT WEIGHT OF A SATURATED, STRAIGHT CHAIN, ALIPHATIC, DICARBOXYLIC ACID CONTAINING 4 TO 20 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE AND 10 TO 2% BY EQUIVALENT WEIGHT OF A SATURATED, STRAIGHT CHAIN, ALIPHATIC, MONOCARBOXYLIC ACID CONTAINING 10-22 CARBON ATOMS PER MOLECULE, THE CROSS LINKING AGENT BEING PRESENT IN THE AMOUNT OF 0.8 TO 1.1 CARBOXYLIC GROUPS FOR EACH EPOXY GROUP IN THE COPOLYMER. A THIRD MATERIAL UTILIZED IN FORMING THE POWDER COATING MIXTURE IS A FLOW CONTROL AGENT WHICH FORMS AT LEAST 0.05% BY WEIGHT OF THE MIXTURE. THE FLOW CONTROL AGENT IS A POLYMER HAVING A MOLECULAR WEIGHT ($N) OF AT LEAST 1000. THE FLOW CONTROL AGENT ALSO HAS, AT THE BAKING TEMPERATURE OF THE POWDER COATING COMPOSITION, A LOWER SURFACE TENSION THAN THE SURFACE TENSION OF THE COPOLYMER.

US. Cl. 26023 EP 28 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Powder coating compositions are disclosed. In general, individual powder coating compositions are a mixture of the following materials. A copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and an ethylenically unsaturated compound is formed in such proportions as to obtain a copolymer with a glass transition temperature in the range of 40 C. to 90 C. and a molecular weight (M in the range of 2500 to 8500. The glycidyl methacrylate is present in the copolymer from at least about 8% by weight to no more than about 30% by weight. Another material of the coating composition is a cross linking agent containing 90 to 98% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, dicarboxylic acid containing 4 to 20 carbon atoms per molecule and 10 to 2% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, monocarboxylic acid containing 1022 carbon atoms per molecule, the cross linking agent being present in the amount of 0.8 to 1.1 carboxylic groups for each epoxy group in the copolymer. A third material utilized in forming the powder coating mixture is a flow control agent which forms at least 0.05% by weight of the mixture. The flow control agent is a polymer having a molecular weight (M,,) of at least 1000. The flow control agent also has, at the baking temperature of the powder coating composition, a lower surface tension than the surface tension of the copolymer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Powder coating compositions for use in the painting of surfaces are extremely desirable. Such coating compositions are desirable because they eliminate the solvents utilized in liquid paint systems as, for example, the paint system shown in US. Pat. 2,857,354, issued Oct. 21, 1958. A powder coating paint composition is curable by heat in a manner that little, if any, volatile material is given ofi to the surrounding environment. This, of course, is substantially different from a liquid paint system as the liquid paint vehicle must be volatilized during the drying of the paint. Volatilization of the liquid vehicle, of course, carries such vaporized material into the surrounding ambient.

This invention is directed to powder coating compositions which are suitable for finishing surfaces of articles with a protective and decorative coating. The coatings produced by the compositions of this invention are comparable on all terms with the coatings produced by the prior art liquid paint systems. The liquid paint system disclosed in U.S. Pat. 2,857,354 is apparently similar but, in reality, substantially different than the powder coating compositions of this invention. A full discussion of these differences is set forth in the last portion of this specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to powder coating compositions and, more particularly, to powder coating compositions which are curable by heat and, when cured, have more flexibility, a higher gloss anda smoother finish nited States Patent than other types of powder coatings in which only a dicarboxylic acid is used as crosslinking agent. A powder coating composition formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention comprises an intimate mixture of several materials. A first material of the mixture is a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and an ethylenically unsaturated compound in such proportions as to obtain a copolymer with a glass transition temperature in the range of 40 C. to 90 C. and with a molecular weight (fi in the range of 2500 to 8500. The glycidyl methacrylate is present in the copolymer from at least about 8% by weight to no more than about 20% by weight. Another material of the mixture is a cross linking agent containing 90 to 98% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, dicarboxylic acid containing 4 to 20 carbon atoms per molecule and 10 to 2% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, monocarboxylic acid containing l022 carbon atoms per molecule. The cross linking agent is present in the mixture in the amount of 0.8 to 1.1 carboxylic groups per each epoxy group in the copolymer. Another material of the mixture is a flow control agent which forms at least 0.05% by weight of the mitxure. This flow control agent is a polymer having a molecular weight (T1,) of at least 1000. The flow control agent also has, at the baking temperature of the powder coating com position, a lower surface tension than the surface tension of the copolymer.

In greater detail, a powder coating composition formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention includes a small weight percent of a catalyst which produces a gel time for the powder coating composition greater than 1 minute at the baking temperature of the composition. The coating composition may also use therein a pigment which forms from about 6% by weight to about 35% by weight of the total mixture depending on the pigment selected. The powder coating composition may also include a small weight percentage of an antistatic agent.

The preferred ranges for individual contents of the materials for the powder coating compositions described above is as follows. The glycidyl methacrylate which forms a portion of the copolymer in the mixture should be present in the copolymer in the range of at least 8% by weight to no more than 30% by weight. A desirable range of glycidyl methacrylate in the copolymer is at least 12% by weight to no more than 23% by weight with the most desirable copolymer containing approximately 15 to 20% by Weight of the glycidyl methacrylate. Also, the preferred glass transition temperature for the copolymer is in the range of 50 C. to C. with a molecular weight (IL) in the range of 3000 to 6500. The most desirable glass transition temperature for the copolymer is 60 C. to 70 C. with a molecular weight (M,,) in the range of 3000 to 4000.

With respect to the saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, dicarboxylic acids used in the powder coating mixture as 'a part of the cross linking agent, a preferred range of such acids includes the acids having 5 to 13 carbon atoms. The desirable dicarboxylic acids are adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, undecandoic acid and brassylic acid, with adipic acid and azelaic acid being the most desirable. With respect to the saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, monocarboxylic acids used in the powder coating mixture as the second part of the curing agent, a preferred range of such acids includes the acids having 12 to 18 carbon atoms. The desirable monocarboxylic acids are lauric acid, tridecanoic acid, myristic acid, pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, marganic acid and stearic acid, with lauric acid and stearic acid being the most desirable.

With respect to the flow control agents used in the powder coating mixture, an individual agent selected for a mixture may be an acrylic polymer having a glass transition temperature below the glass transition temperature of the mixtures copolymer. Preferred acrylic polymers which may be used for the flow control agent are polylauryl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate), polylauryl methacrylate and polyisodecyl methacrylate.

The flow control agent may also be a fluorinated polymer having a glass transition temperature, at the baking temperature of the powder, lower than the copolymer utilized in the mixture. Preferred flow control agents, if the agent is a fluorinated polymer are esters of polyethyleneglycol or polypropyleneglycol and fluorinated fatty acids. For example, an ester of polyethyleneglycol of molecular weight of over 2500 and perfiuoro octanoic acid is a useful flow control agent.

In addition to the glycidyl methacrylate monomer used in all copolymer forming mixtures, other monomers which may be used are methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, styrene, alpha methyl styrene, acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile. The glycidyl methacrylate and the ethylenically unsaturated monomers are mixed and reacted in such proportions as to obtain the copolymer for the powder coating mixture which has a glass transition temperature and a molecular weight as set forth above.

A small weight percentage of a catalyst is added to the powder coating composition in order to increase the cross linking rate of the powder coating composition at the baking temperature thereof. In preference, the catalyst produces a gel time for the powder coating composition of at least 1 minute but no greater than 40 minutes. The preferred catalyst is one which produces a gel time of at least 1 minute but no greater than minutes. In general, the catalyst is present in the range of from 0.05% by weight to 1% by weight of the weight of the mixture. The most desirable gel time produced by the catalyst is in a time range of from about 3 minutes to about 10 minutes. These catalyst gel times are at baking temperatures for the powder coating compositions in the range of 130 C. to 200 C.

The powder coating compositions of this invention may also contain from about 6% by weight to about 35 by weight of a pigment. The various pigments already known in the art may be employed in the powder coating compositions. The pigments are generally selected for color, appearance or corrosion protection properties.

A small weight percent of an antistatic agent may also be employed in the powder coating composition. For example, 0.05 by weight to 0.5% by weight of the powder coating composition may be an antistatic agent so that the coating may be applied in an electrostatic spraying operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A general discussion of the various materials which may be employed in the powder coating compositions of this invention will be set forth below. Also, a plurality of examples will be employed to show the manner in which various, individual, powder coating compositions, which fall within the scope of this invention, are prepared and utilized.

The principle material in individual powder coating compositions is a copolymer formed from glycidyl methacrylate and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer in such proportions as to obtain a copolymer with a glass transition temperature in the range of 40 C. to 90 C.

and a molecular weight (fi in the range of 2500 to 8500. The ethylenically unsaturated monomer employed to form the copolymer is any one, or a mixture of, the many different monomers known to those skilled in the art. In forming the copolymer, the glycidyl methacrylate is present in the final copolymer from at least about 8% by weight to no more than about 30% by weight. The balance of the weight of the copolymer is formed from the ethylenically unsaturated monomers.

The preferred ethylenically unsaturated monomers which are employed to form the copolymer with the glycidyl methacrylate are methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, Z-ethylhexyl acrylate. Suitable modifying monomers such as styrene, alpha methyl styrene, acrylonitrile, and methacrylonitrile can be used with the preferred monomers. When used, a modifying monomer is present in the copolymer from a weight percent of about 0% by weight to no more than about 35% by Weight. Thus, when the preferred ethylenically unsaturated monomers are used with glycidyl methacrylate to form the copolymer, the glycidyl methacrylate is present in the copolymer from 8% by weight to about 30% by weight, the modifying monomer is present from about 0% by weight to no more than about 35% by weight, and the preferred monomer is present from about 92% by weight to about 35 by weight.

In accordance with detailed teachings of this invention, the copolymer for the powder coating composition is formed from glycidyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, and butyl methacrylate. In this instance, the glycidyl methacrylate is present in the copolymer from about 8% by weight to no more than about 30% by weight, the methyl methacrylate is present in the copolymer from about 25% by weight to about 60% by weight, and the balance of the copolymer is butyl methacrylate.

The copolymers of glycidyl methacrylate can be prepared by a variety of methods. Generally, a free radical initiator is needed to induce polymerization reaction. A large number of free radical initiators are known in the art. These include benzoyl peroxide, lauryl peroxide, t-butylhydroxyperoxide, acetylcyclohexane sulfonyl peroxide, diisobutyryl peroxide, di-(2-ethylhexy1)peroxydicarbonate, diisopropyl peroxydicarbonate, t-butylperoxypivalate, decanoyl peroxide, azobis (Z-methylpropionitrile) etc. The polymerization is preferably carried out in solution using a solvent in which the glycidyl methacrylate copolymer is soluble. Toluene, xylene, dioxane, butanone, etc., are suitable solvents for polymerization. If the glycidyl methacrylate copolymer is prepared in solution, the solid copolymer can be obtained by evaporating the solvent under vaccum or spray drying techniques. Alternatively, the copolymer can be precipitated by pouring the solution at a slow rate into a non-solvent liquid such as hexane, octane or water under a suitable agitation condition at a slow rate. The copolymer thus obtained should be further dried so that it contains less than three percent of the materials that volatilze at the temperatures used for baking the coatings.

Glycidyl methacrylate copolymers can also be prepared by emulsion polymerization, suspension polymerization, bulk polymerization or their suitable combinations. In these methods of preparing glycidyl methacrylate copolymers, chain transfer agents may be required to control the molecular weight of the copolymer to a desired range. The solid copolymers obtained by these methods must also be dried to contain less than three percent of the materials that volatilize at the temperatures used for baking the coatings.

For powder coating applications, molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the glycidyl methacrylate copolymer is important. Copolymer of average molecular weight (fi in the range of 2500 to 8500 are suitable. These copolymers, however, must not contain significant amount of higher molecular weight fractions. No more than 2 percent of the copolymer can be of molecular weight greater than 20,000. The molecular weight distribution as measured by the ratio of weight average molecular weight to number average molecular weight (H /H should be in the range of 1.6 to 2.1. The

preferred range of molecular weight distribution is in the range of 1.7 to 1.8.

Another one of the materials of individual ones of the powder coating compositions of this invention is a cross linking agent containing 90 to 98%" by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, dicarboxylic acid containing 4 to 20 carbon atoms per molecule and to 2% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, monocarboxylic acid containing 1022 carbon atoms per molecule, the cross linking agent being present in the amount of 0.8 to 1.1. carboxylic groups for each epoxy group in the copolymer. The preferred dicarboxylic acids for the cross linking agent are those containing from 5 to 13 carbon atoms per molecule. The preferred monocarboxylic acids are those containing 12 to 18 carbon atoms per molecule. In still greater detail, the most desirable dicarboxylic acids are adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, undecandoic acid and brassylic acid. The most desirable monocarboxylic acids are lauric acid, tridecanoic acid, myristic acid, pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, marganic acid and stearic acid.

A flow control agent is also included in forming each indivdual ones of the powder coating compositions of this invention. The flow control agent forms at least 0.05 by weight of an individual powder coating. The flow control agent generally does not exceed about 4% by weight of any individual powder coating composition. In general, the flow control agent is a polymer having a molecular weight (M of at least 1000. Further, the flow control agent has, at the baking temperature of the powder coating composition, a lower surface tension than the surface tension of the copolymer employed in forming the composition.

One type of material which is used as a flow control agent in the powder coating compositions is an acrylic polymer having a glass transition temperature below the glass transition temperature of the compositions copolymer. Some acrylic polymers which are preferred as flow control agents are polylauryl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate and poly (Z-ethylhexyl acrylate). Acrylic polymers to be used as flow control agents can be prepared by polymerization of the acrylate or methacylate monomers in bulk or in suitable solvent using well known free radical initiators. The amount of the initiator and the polymerization conditions are chosen so that polymer formed has molecular weight (fi above 1000.

Although polymeric acrylate flow control agents are preferred, fluorinated polymers have been found to act as fiow control agents for the power coating compositions. Such fluorinated polymers are esters of polyethyleneglycols or polypropyleneglycol and fluorinated fatty acids. Esters of polyethyleneglycol of molecular weight (M flow control agents for the compositons of this invention.

The indivdual powder coating compositions of this invention each contain a small, effective, weight percentage of a catalyst. In general, the catalyst is present in an individual composition in a range from 0.05% by weight to 1.0% by weight. The catalyst is selected to produce a gel time for the powder coating composition greater than at least 1 minute at the baking temperature of the composition. A suitable catalyst is also one which will produce a gel time that does not exceed 40 minutes. As used herein, the gel time of a coating composition is that time in which the coating composition develops elasticity and resistance to flow at the baking temperature.

Some catalysts which are suitable for use in the powder coating composition include tetraalkylammonium salts, imidazole types catalysts, tertiary amines, triaryl phosphates and metal salts of organic carboxylic acids. The tetraalkylammonium salt, catalysts include the following: tetrabutyl ammonium bromide, tetrabutyl ammonium chloride, tetrabutyl ammonium iodide, tetraethyl ammonium chloride (bromide or iodide), tetramerhyl ammonium chloride (bromide Or iodide), trimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, dodecyl dimethyl (2-phenoxyethyl) ammonium bromide and diethyl(2-hydroxy ethyl) methyl ammonium bromide. Suitable catalysts of the imidazole type include: 2-methyl-4-ethyl imidazole, Z-methyl imidazole, imidazole, Z-(N-benzylanilino) methyl-2- imiclazoline phosphate, and 2-benzyl-2-imidazoline hydrochloride. Suitable tertiary amine catalysts for the powder coating compositions of this invention include: triethylenediamine, N,N-diethylcyclohexylamine, and N-methyl morpholine. The metal salts of organic carboxylic acid which are catalysts for the powder coatings of this invention include, but are not limited to: stannous octoate, zinc naphthenate, cobalt naphthenate, zinc octoate, stannous 2-ethylhexoate, phenylmercuric pripionate, lead neodecanoate, dibutyl tin dilaurate and lithium benzoate. An example of triaryl phosphate type catalyst is triphenyl phosphate.

The catalyst used in an individual powder coating composition is generally solid at room temperature and has a melting point of from 50 C. to 200 C. As previously specified, the catalyst is present in a powder coating composition from 0.05% by weight to 1.0% by weight of the total weight of the powder composition. Further, the catalyst produces a gel time of at least 1 minute and no greater than 40 minutes. Generally, the preferred gel time of the composition is in the range of from 1 minute to approximately 10 minutes at the baking temperature of the composition.

Since individual powder coating compositions of this invention can be applied to an article to be painted by electrostatic methods, it is preferred to include a small weight percentage of an antistatic agent in such compositions so that the deposition thereof is accomplished in a proper manner. In particular, the antistatic agent is included in a range from 0.05 to 1.0% by weight of the total powder composition. Suitable antistatic agents include, but are not limited to, tetraalkylammonium salts as discussed previously and which also serve as catalysts. Other suitable antistatic agents include: alkyl-poly (ethyleneoxy) phosphates as, for example, dibutyl-poly (ethyleneoxy) phosphate or alkylaryl poly (ethyleneoxy) phosphates as, for example, ethyl benzyl poly ethyleneoxy) phosphate.

In order to give individual powder coating compositions of this invention a suitable color, a pigment is included in the coating composition. In general, the pigment forms from about 6% by weight to about 35% by weight of the total powder coating composition. Pigments which are suitable for powder coating compositions include, but are not limited to, the following: basic lead silico chromate 30% by weight orange; titanium dioxide 30% by weight (white); titanium dioxide 15% by weight plus ultra marine blue 10% by weight (blue); phthalocyanine blue 7% by weight plus titanium dioxide 10% by weight (blue); phthalocyanine green 7% by weight plus titanium dioxide 10% by weight (green); ferrite yellow 7% by weight plus titanium dioxide 10% by weight (yellow); carbon black pigment 6% by weight (black); black iron oxide 10% by weight (black); chromium green oxide 8% by weight plus titanium dioxide 10% by weight (green); quindo red 5% by weight plus titanium dioxide 16% by weight (red); and iron oxide transparent orange pigment 10% by weight (orange).

Having generally described the various materials which are employed in formulating the powder coating compositions of this invention, a plurality of examples will be set forth to illustrate various individual powder coating compositions.

EXAMPLE 1 The monomers, glycidyl methacrylate 15 by weight, methyl methacrylate 45% by weight and butyl methacrylate 40% by-weight are mixed together. Three weight percent of a catalyst 2,2-azobis-(Z-methylpropionitrile) (AIBN) is dissolved in the monomer mixture. The mixture is slowly added to refluxing toluene (100 parts) which is stirred vigorously under a nitrogen atmosphere. A condenser is provided at the top of the toluene container to condense the toluene vapors and return them to the container. The monomer mixture is added through a regulating valve and the rate of addition is controlled to maintain a reflux temperature (109 C.112 C.) with only a small fraction of heat supplied from an external heater. After the addition of the monomer mixture is complete, the refluxing is maintained by external heat source for 3 additional hours.

The solution is poured into shallow stainless steel trays. These trays are placed in a vacuum oven and the solvent evaporated therefrom. As the solvent is removed, the copolymer solution becomes more concentrated. The temperature of the vacuum oven is raised to about 110 C. Drying is continued until the solvent content of the eopolymer is below 3 percent. The trays are cooled and the copolymer collected and ground to pass through 20 mesh screen. The copolymer has a glass transition temperature of 53 C. and a molecular weight (FL) of 4000.

One hundred parts by weight of the ground copolymer are mixed with the following materials:

Parts Azelaic acid (90 equivalent percent) 9.0 Laurie acid equivalent percent) 2.1 Tetrabutyl ammonium bromide 0.2 Polylauryl acetylate (M =l0,000) 0.5 Titanium dioxide 30 The materials are mixed together in a ball mill for 2 hours. The mixture is milled rolled at 85 C. to 90 C. for 5 minutes. The solid obtained is ground in a ball mill to pass through a 140 mesh screen.

The resulting powder thus obtained is a powder coating composition of the invention. The powder is sprayed on an electrically grounded, steel panel by using electrostatic powder spray gun operating at 50 kv. charging voltage. After spraying, the panel is heated at 175 C. for minutes.

The coating obtained on the panel has good adhesion to the steel panel and good impact strength. The coating also is applied to and has good adhesion on panels of glass, brass, zinc, aluminum, copper, and bronze. The coating obtained is not soluble in toluene, gasoline, butanone or methanol.

EXAMPLE 2 The procedure of Example 1 is repeated. The formation of the copolymer, howe'ver, begins with a monomer mixture having glycidyl methacrylate 8% by weight, methyl methacrylate 52% by weight and butyl methacrylate 40% by weight. Three weight percent of the catalyst AIBN is employed. When the procedure of Example 1 is followed, the resulting copolymer has a glass transition temperature of 58 C. and a molecular weight of 4000.

One hundred parts of the copolymer produced is mixed with the same additional ingredients set forth in Example 1, except using 5.0 parts azelaic acid (94 equivalent percent) and 0.6 part lauric acid (6 equivalent percent).

EXAMPLE 3 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate 12% by weight, methyl methacrylate 48% by weight, and butyl methacrylate 40% by weight. The monomer mixture is processed in the same manner as described in Example 1 with 3% by Weight of the catalyst AIBN employed. The resulting copolymer has a glass transition temperature of 56 C. and a molecular weight of 4000. One hundred parts of the copolymer produced is mixed with the same additional ingredients described in Example 1, except 7.8 parts aze- 8 laic lacid (97.5%) and 0.5 part lauric acid (2.5%) are used.

The powder coating composition obtained by following the process steps set forth in Example 1 is applied to test panels in the same manner as described in Example 1. The coating is baked at a temperature of 170 C. for 30 minutes. The coating obtained has good adhesion to steel, glass, brass, aluminum, copper and bronze.

EXAMPLE 4 Parts Adipic acid (94%) 9.7 Stearic acid (6%) 2.3 Tetrabutylammonium chloride 0.1 Polybutylacrylate (11,:9000) 4 Titanium dioxide 15 Ultra marine blue 10 The above ingredients are mixed together and processed in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 to obtain a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is sprayed on various test panels of steel, glass, brass, zinc, aluminum, copper and bronze. The coating obtained on each test panel after curing of the powder coating composition at a temperature of 200 C. for 10 minutes is of good quality, and is solvent and scratch resistant.

EXAMPLE 5 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate 25% by weight, methyl methacrylate 40% by weight and butyl methacrylate 35% by weight. The monomers are reacted as described in Example 1 to produce a copolymer. In this case, 6% by weight of the catalyst AIBN is employed. The resulting copolymer has a glass transition temperature of 53 C. and a molecular weight of 2000.

One hundred parts by weight of the copolymer obtained is mixed with the following materials:

Parts Pimelic acid (95%) 13.5 Stearic acid (5%) 2.5 2-methyl-4-ethylimidazole 0.05 Dibutyl poly(ethyleneoxy) phosphate 0.05 Polyisododecylmethacrylate 4 Titanium dioxide 10 Phthalocyanine blue 7 A powder coating composition is obtained by following the process steps set forth in Example 1. The coating composition is applied to a series of test panels and baked at the temperature of and for the same time as Example 4. The coating obtained on the various test panels is of the same quality with respect to its adhesion, appearance and inpaet characteristics as the panels of Example 4.

EXAMPLE 6 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate 15% by weight, butyl acrylate 20% by weight and methyl methacrylate 65% by weight. The monomer is reacted as set forth in Example l in order to produce a copolymer. Four percent by weight of the catalyst AIBN is employed in reacting the monomer mixture to form the copolymer. The copolymer has a glass transition temperature of 65 C. and a molecular weight of 3000.

One hundred parts by weight of the copolymer obtained is added. to the following materials:

Parts Suberic acid (92%) 8.5 Palmitic acid (8%) 2.56 Triethylene diamine 0.1 Tetraethylammonium chloride .05 Polylaurylmethacrylate (fi =6000) 2 Phthalocyanine green 7 Titanium dioxide 10 The above described materials are processed as described in Example 1 in order to produce a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is applied to test panels as described in Example 1 and baked on the panels at a temperature of 150 C. for minutes.

The coating obtained has good adhesion to steel, glass, brass, zinc, aluminum, copper and bronze and is insoluble in toluene, gasoline, methanol and butanone.

EXAMPLE 7 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate 15% by weight, methyl methacrylate 50% by weight and styrene 35% by weight. The monomers are reacted in accordance with the procedure set forth in Example 1 with 3% by weight of the catalyst AIBN being utilized. The resulting ground copolymer has a molecular weight of 4500 and a glass transition temperature of 90 C.

One hundred parts by weight of the copolymer obtained is added to the following materials:

Parts Sebacic acid (93%) 10.1 Undecanoic acid (7%) 1.47 Tetramethylammonium chloride 1 Poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate) 2 Ferrite yellow 7 Titanium dioxide 10 This mixture is processed as described in Example 1 in order to form a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is applied to test panels as described in Example 1. The panels are baked at a temperature of 180 C. for 5 minutes. The adhesion quality of the powder coating after baking on the various test panels is good. The coating on each panel possesses good solvent and scratch resistance.

EXAMPLE 8 A monomer mixture having the following composition is formed: glycidyl methacrylate 18% by weight, ethyl acrylate 20% by weight, methyl methacrylate 40% by weight, vinyl chloride 22% by weight. The monomer mixture is polymerized by using 2 weight percent of AIBN as the initiator.

One hundred parts of the ground copolymer obtained is added to the following materials:

Parts Tetradecandioc acid (91%) 14.9 Capric acid (9%) 1.67 Trimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride 0.1 Poly (2-ethylhexyl acrylate) (M )=11,000 2 Carbon black 6 The above materials are mixed and processed as set forth in Example 1. The resulting powder coating composition is applied to test panels as specified in Example 1. The coating composition is baked at 170 C. for 15 minutes. All the painted panels exhibit good adhesion and solvent resistance properties.

EXAMPLE 9 A monomer mixture having the following composition is formed: glycidyl methacrylate 15% by weight, methyl methacrylate 30% by weight, isobutyl acrylate 25% by weight, alpha methyl styrene 15% by weight and methacrylonitrile 15% by weight. The monomer mixture is reacted in the same manner as described in Example 1. Three percent of the catalyst AIBN is employed. The resulting copolymer has a glass transition temperature of 46 C. and a molecular weight of 4500.

One hundred parts of the ground copolymer obtained is added to the following materials:

Parts Brassylic acid 12.6 Stearic acid 0.2 Dodecyldimethyl (2-phenoxy-ethyl) ammonium bromide 0.5 Polyethylene glycol perfluoro octonoate (M =3400) 2 Black iron oxide 10 The mixture so formed is processed as described in Example 1 to produce a powder coating composition. This powder coating composition is applied to test panels as it is described in Example 1. The coated panels are baked at C. for 15 minutes. The coating on each panel has good adhesion and solvent resistance.

EXAMPLE 10 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate 5% by weight, methyl methacrylate 55% by weight, and butyl methacrylate 40% by weight. The monomer mixture is reacted as described in Example 1 with 6% by weight of the catalyst AIBN. The resulting copolymer has a glass transition temperature of 55 C. and a molecular weight of 3000.

One hundred parts by weight of the ground copolymer is mixed with the following materials:

Parts Azelaic acid (98%) 3.27 Myristic acid (2%) 0.17 Tetraethylammonium bromide 1 Ethyl benzyl (ethyleneoxy) phosphate 5 Poly (2-ethylhexyl acrylate) 0.4 Chromium green oxide 8 Titanium dioxide 10 The above mixture is processed as described in Example 1 to produce a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is applied to a plurality of test panels. The panels are baked at a temperature of C. for 20 minutes. The adhesion to the test panels of the powder coating material is poor and coating has a tendency to chip and crack.

EXAMPLE 1 1 Parts Nonadecandioc acid (96%) 26.7 Undecanoic acid (4%) 1.25 Stannous octoate 0.5 Tetraethylammonium bromide .05 Polyethylene glycol perfluoro octonoate (H=3500) 2 Quindo red 5 Titanium dioxide 15 The mixture above described is processed as set forth in Example 1 to produce a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is applied to test panels as described in Example 1. The panels are baked at 150 C. for 20 minutes. The adhesion to the panels of the powder coating is good and the coating possesses good solvent resistance.

EXAMPLE 12 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate 22% by weight, n-hexyl methacrylate 20% by weight, butyl methacrylate 25% by weight and acrylonitrile 33% by weight. A copolymer is formed from this monomer mixture in accordance with the same procedure as is outlined in Example 1. In this case, 1.5% by weight of the catalyst AIBN is added. The copolymer produced has a glass transition temperature of 40 C. and a molecular weight of 7500.

The ground copolymer (100 parts by weight) is added to the following materials:

Parts Docosandioc acid (90%) 24.5 Tridecanoic acid (10%) 3.12. Zinc octoate 0.8 Tetrabutylammonium iodide 1.0 Polybutyl acrylate 2.0 Iron oxide transparent orange 10 The above ingredients are mixed together and processed in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 to obtain a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is sprayed on various test panels of steel, glass, brass, zinc, aluminum, copper and bronze. The coating obtained on each test panel after curing of the powder coating composition at a temperature of 140 C. for 20 minutes is of good quality, and is a solvent and scratch resistant.

EXAMPLE 13 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycid'yl methacrylate 10% by weight, methyl methacrylate 45% b'y weight, butyl methacrylate 35% by weight and vinyl acetate 10% by weight. A copolymer is formed from this monomer mixture in accordance with the same procedure as is outlined in Example 1. iln this case, 3% by weight of the catalyst AIBN is added.

The ground copolymer (100 parts by weight) is added to the following materials:

Parts Adipic acid (98%) 4.9 Myristic acid (2%) 0.3 Tetrabutylammonium bromide 2 Poly (2-ethylhexyl acrylate) 3.5 Carbon black 6 The above ingredients are mixed together and processed in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 to obtain a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is sprayed on various test panels. The coating obtained on each test panel after curing of the powder coating composition at a temperature of 160 C. for 10 minutes is of good quality. Also, the coating obtained on each test panel is insoluble in toluene, gasoline methanol and butanone.

EXAMPLE 14 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate 8% by weight, methyl methacrylate 52% by weight and isobutyl methacrylate 40% by weight. A copolymer is formed from this monomer mixture in accordance with the same procedure as is outlined in Example 1. In this case, by weight of the catalyst AIBN is added. The copolymer produced has a glass transition temperature of 75 C. and a molecular weight of 3200.

12 The ground copolymer parts by weight) is added to the following materials:

Parts Succinic acid (97.3%) 3.6 Palmitic acid (2.7%) 0.43 Tetrabutylammonium bromide 2 Polylauryl acrylate 4 Titanium dioxide 30 The above ingredients are mixed together and processed in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 to obtain a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is sprayed on various test panels of steel, brass, glass, zinc, aluminum, copper and bronze. The coating obtained on each test panel after curing of the powder coating composition at a temperature of C. for 10 minutes is of good quality and is solvent and scratch resistant.

EXAMPLE 15 Parts Undecandioc acid (94%) 8.0 Behenic acid (6%) 1.89 Tetrabutylammonium chloride 0.7 Polybutyl acrylate 2 Titanium dioxide 30 The above ingredients are mixed together and processed in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 to obtain a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is sprayed on various test panels. The coating obtained on each test panel after curing of the powder coating composition at a temperature of 180 C. for 15 minutes is of good quality. Also, each of the test panels coating is resistant to and insoluble in toluene, gasoline, methanol and butanone.

EXAMPLE 16 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate 15% by weight, methyl methacrylate 32% by weight, ethyl acrylate 15 by weight, isobutyl acrylate 8% by weight, and styrene 30% by weight. A copolymer is formed from this monomer mixture in accordance with the same procedure as is outlined in Example 1. In this case, 3% by weight of the catalyst AIBN is added:

The ground copolymer (100 parts by weight) is added to the following materials:

Parts Glutaric acid (90%) 6.0 Arachidic acid (10%) 1.1 Tetraethylammonium bromide 1 Polyisodecyl methacrylate (M =5000) 1.5 Titanium dioxide 30 The above ingredients are mixed together and processed in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 to obtain a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is sprayed on various test panels of steel, glass, brass, zinc, aluminum, copper and bronze. The coatings obtained on each test panel after curing of the powder coating composition at a temperature of C. for

15 minutes is of good quality and has good adhesion characteristics. The powder coating composition on each panel is resistant to the solvents previously mentioned.

EXAMPLE 17 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate 15% by weight, methyl methacrylate 40% by weight, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate 15 by weight, alpha methyl styrene 20% by weight and acrylonitrile by weight. A copolymer is formed from this monomer mixture using 4% by weight of the catalyst AIBN.

The ground copolymer (100 parts by weight) is added to the following materials:

Parts Adipic acid 7.3 Palmitic acid 1.4 Tetraethylammonium bromide 0.4 Poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate) 2 Titanium dioxide 30 The above ingredients are mixed together and processed in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 to obtain a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is sprayed on various test panels of steel, glass, brass, zinc, aluminum, copper and bronze. The coating obtained on each test panel after curing of the powder coating composition at a temperature of 170 C. for 20 minutes is of good quality and resistant to the aforementioned solvents.

EXAMPLE 18 Parts Azelaic acid 12.8 Palmitic acid 1.63 Tetraethylammonium bromide 0.5 Polylauryl acrylate 1.0 Titanium dioxide 30 The above ingredients are mixed together and processed in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 to obtain a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is sprayed on various test panels of steel, glass, brass, zinc, aluminum, copper and bronze. The coating obtained on each test panel after curing of the powder coating composition at a temperature of 180 C. for 10 minutes is of good quality and is resistant to the aforementioned solvents.

EXAMPLE 19 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate by weight, butyl methacrylate 15% by weight, ethyl acrylate 15 by weight, methyl methacrylate 30% by weight and styrene 25% by weight. A copolymer is formed from this monomer mixture in accordance with the same procedure as is outlined in Example 1. In this case, 4% by weight of the catalyst AIBN is added.

The ground copolymer (100 parts by weight) is added to the following materials:

Parts Azelaic acid 8.0

Stearic acid 1.21 Tetraethylammonium bromide 1.0 Polylauryl acrylate 0.5 Titanium dioxide 30 The above ingredients are mixed together and processed in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 to obtain a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is sprayed on various test panels of steel, glass, brass, zinc, aluminum, copper and bronze. The coating obtained on each test panel after curing of the powder coating composition at a temperature of C. for 30 minutes is of good quality and resistant to the aforementioned solvents.

EXAMPLE 20 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate 15% by weight, 2- ethylhexyl acrylate 10% by Weight, methyl methacrylate 50% by weight, methacrylonitrile 15% by weight and alpha methyl styrene 10% by weight. A copolymer is formed from this monomer mixture in accordance with the same procedure as is outlined in Example 1. In this case, 4% by Weight of the catalyst AIBN is added.

The ground copolymer (100 parts by weight) is added to the following materials:

Parts Azelaic acid 10.6 Arachidic acid 1.66 Tetraethylammonium bromide 0.5 Polylauryl acrylate 2.5 Titanium dioxide 30 The above ingredients are mixed together and processed in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 to obtain a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is sprayed on various test panels of steel, glass, brass, zinc, aluminum, copper and bronze. The coating obtained on each test panel after curing of the powder coating composition at a temperature of C. for 30 minutes is of good quality. Also the coatings are resistant to and insoluble in toluene, gasoline, methanol and butanone.

EXAMPLE 21 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate 30% by weight, methyl methacrylate 60% by weight, and n-butyl methacrylate 10% by weight. A copolymer is formed from this monomer mixture in accordance with the procedure as is outlined in Example 1. In this case, 4% by weight of the catalyst AIBN is added.

The ground copolymer (100 parts by weight) is added to the following materials:

Parts Azelaic acid 17.6 Laurie acid 3.9 Tetrabutylarnmonium chloride 0.7 Polybutyl acrylate 2 Titanium dioxide 30 The above ingredients are mixed together and processed in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 to obtain a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is sprayed on various test panels. The coating obtained on each test panel after curing of the powder coating composition at a temperature of C. for 15 minutes is of good quality. Also, each of the test panels coatings is resistant to and insoluble in toluene, gasoline, methanol and butanone.

EXAMPLE 22 A monomer mixture having the following composition is prepared: glycidyl methacrylate 35% by weight, methyl methacrylate 55% by weight, and n-butyl methacrylate 10% by weight. A copolymer is formed from this monomer mixture in accordance with the procedure as is outlined in Example 1. In this case, 4% by weight of the catalyst AIBN is added.

1 The ground copolymer (100 parts by weight) is added to the following materials:

Parts Adipic acid 15.7 Stearic acid 5.8 Tetrabutylammonium chloride 0.7

Polybutyl acrylate 2 Titanium dioxide The above ingredients are mixed together and processed in accordance with the procedure of Example 1 to obtain a powder coating composition. The powder coating composition is sprayed on various test panels. The coating obtained on each test panel after curing of the powder coating composition at a temperature of 175 C. for 18 minutes is of poor quality and shows low impact strength.

The use of glycidyl methacrylate copolymers and dicarboxylic acid cross linking agents in a liquid paint system is described in US. Pat. 2,857,354. However, the powder coating compositions of this invention are substantialy different than the liquid paint compositions described in the examples of that patent. This difference can be best illustrated by attempting to prepare powder coating compositions by evaporating the solvents from the liquid paint systems described in the examples of the patent. Dry powders cannot be prepared from the compositions of Examples 4 and 5 of the patent. Powders prepared from the compositions of Examples 1, 2, 3 and 6, when deposited on a metal panel, do not fuse together to form a film when the panels are baked at 150 to 200 C. for 20 minutes. The baked coatings on test panels are not smooth, but rather, are rough. Also, the baked coatings possess very low gloss, and have a lack of flexibility and adhesion. It, therefore, can be concluded that compositions which are generally suitable for liquid paint systems are not necessarily suitable for powder paints by simply evaporating the solvents therefrom.

The use of a dicarboxylic acid as a cross linking agent for glycidyl methacrylate terpolymers is mentioned in US. Pat. 3,058,947. In order to test these materials, compositions of Example VII of this patent are dried by evaporating solvents under vacuum. The materials are ground to pass through a 200 mesh screen. Samples of the ground powder are deposited on metal panels and baked at 160 C. for 45 minutes. The coatings obtained show an abundance of craters, are inferior in gloss and smoothness, and lack the impact properties described in Example VII. It is, therefore, concluded that there is a substantial ditference in paint films produced on a panel when the coating is produced on one hand by a liquid system, and, on the other hand, by a powder system. Other improvements specific to the powders are needed in order to obtain paints of acceptable quality. The reason for the difference between the properties and appearance of powder coatings derived by solvent evaporation from a liquid coating and the liquid coatings itself are not clear. It is, however, certain that the powders obtained by drying liquid paint compositions are not useful for powder coating compositions.

There has been disclosed herein powder coating compositions which may be employed in the painting of articles. The powder coating compositions when cured are more flexible, have a higher gloss and a smoother finish than some other types of powder coatings such as those using only dicarboxylic acid cross linking agents alone.

Many modifications of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this specification. It is intended that all such modifications which fall within the scope of this invention be included within the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A powder coating composition which exclusive of a catalyst, a pigment, and an antistatic agent comprises a mixture of:

(A) a copolymer of a glycidyl compound and an ethylenically unsaturated compound in such proportions as to obtain a copolymer with a glass transition temperature in the range of 40 C. to 90 C. and a molecular weight (M in the range of 2500 to 8500, said glycidyl compound being present in the copolymer from at least about 8% by weight to no more than about 30% by weight;

(B) a cross linking agent containing 90 to 98% by equivalent weight of a saturated, stright chain, aliphatic, dicarboxylic acid containing 4-20 carbon atoms per molecule, and 10 to 2% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, monocarboxylic acid containing 10-22 carbon atoms per molecule, the cross linking agent being present in the amount of 0.8 to 1.1 carboxylic groups for each epoxy group in the copolymer; and

(C) a flow control agent forming at least 0.05% by weight of the mixture, said flow control agent being a polymer having a molecular weight (fi of at least 1000 and being selected from the group consisting of polylauryl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, poly (2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate), polyisododecyl methacrylate, polylauryl methacrylate, and esters of polyethyleneglycol or polypropyleneglycol and fluorinated fatty acids.

2. The powder coating composition of claim 1 further comprising: (D) a small weight percent of a catalyst which produces a gel time for the powder coating composition greater than 1 minute at the baking temperature of the composition.

3. The powder coating composition of claim 2 further comprising: a pigment forming from about 6% by weight to about 35% by weight of the total mixture.

4. The powder coating composition of claim 2 wherein: said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of adipic acid, pimelic acid, azelaic acid, suberic acid, sebacic acid, undecandoic acid and brassylic acid; and wherein: said monocarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of lauric acid, tridecanoic acid, myristic acid, pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, margaric acid and stearic acid.

5. A powder coating composition which exclusive of a pigment and an antistatic agent comprises a mixture of:

(A) a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and an ethylenically unsaturated compound in such proportions so as to obtain a copolymer with a glass transition temperature inthe range of 50 C. to C. and a molecular weight (M in the range of 3000 to 6500, said glycidyl methacrylate being present in the copolymer from at least about 10% by weight to no more than about 25% by weight;

(B) a cross linking agent containing to 98% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, dicarboxylic acid containing 5-13 carbon atoms per molecule, and 10 to 2% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic monocarboxylic acid containing 12-18 carbon atoms per molecule, the cross linking agent being present in the amount of 0.8 to 1.1 carboxylic groups for each epoxy group in the copolymer; and

(C) a fiow control agent forming at least about 0.05%

by weight of the mixture, said flow control agent being a polymer having a molecular weight (fi of at least 1000 and being selected from the group consisting of polylauryl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, poly (2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate), polyisododecyl methacrylate, polylauryl methacrylate, and esters of polyethyleneglycol or polypropyleneglycol and fiuorinated fatty acids; and

(D) a small weight percentage of a catalyst which produces a gel time for the powder coating composition at the compositions baking temperature of at least 1 minute and no greater than 40 minutes.

6. The powder coating composition of claim 5 further 17 including: a pigment forming from about 6% by weight to about 35% by weight of the total mixture.

7. The powder coating composition of claim wherein: said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of adipic acid and azelaic acid; and wherein said monocarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of lauric acid and stearic acid.

8. A powder coating composition which exclusive of a pigment and an antistatic agent comprises a mixture of:

(A) a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and an ethlenically unsaturated compound in such proportions as to obtain a copolymer with a glass transition temperature in the range of 60 C. to 70 C. and with a molecular weight (M in the range of 3000 to 4000, said glycidyl methacrylate being present in the copolymer from at least about 12% by weight to no more than about 23% by weight;

(B) a cross linking agent containing 90 to 98% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, dicarboxylic acid containing 5-13 carbon atoms per molecule, and to 2% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, monocarboxylic acid containing 12-18 carbon atoms per molecule, the cross linking agent being present in the amount of 0.8 to 1.1 carboxylic groups for each epoxy group in the copolymer;

(C) a flow control agent forming at least 0.05 by weight of the mixture, said flow control agent being a polymer having a molecular weight (M of at least 1000 and being selected from the group consisting of polylauryl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, poly (Z-ethyl-hexyl acrylate), polyisododecyl methacrylate, polylauryl methacrylate, and esters of polyethyleneglycol or polypropyleneglycol and fluorinated fatty acids; and

(D) a small weight percentage of a catalyst which produces a gel time for the coating composition at its baking temperature of at least 1 minute and no greater than 10 minutes.

9. The powder coating composition of claim 8 wherein:

a pigment is included which forms from about 6% by weight to about 35 by weight of the total mixture.

10. The powder coating composition of claim 8 wherein: said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of adipic acid and azelaic acid; and wherein said monocarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of lauric acid and stearic acid.

11. A powder coating composition which exclusive of a pigment and an antistatic agent comprises a mixture of:

(A) a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and an ethylenically unsaturated compound in such proportions as to obtain a copolymer with a glass transition temperature in the range of 60 C. to 70 C. and a molecular weight (M,,) in the range of 3000 to 4000, said glycidyl methacrylate being present in the copolymer from about by weight to about by weight;

(B) a cross linking agent containing 90 to 98% by equivalent weight of dicarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of adipic acid and azelaic acid, and 10 to 2% by equivalent weight of a monocarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of lauric acid and stearic acid, the cross linking agent being present in the amount of 0.8 to 1.1 carboxylic groups for each epoxy group in the copolymer;

(C) a flow control agent forming at least 0.05% by weight of the mixture, said flow control agent being a polymer having a molecular weight (NI of at least 1000 and being selected from the group consisting of polylauryl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, poly (2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate), polyisododecyl methacrylate, polylauryl methacrylate, and esters of polyethyleneglycol or polypropyleneglycol and fluorinated fatty acids; and

(D) a small weight percentage of a catalyst sufficient to give the powder coating composition at its baking temperature a gel time from at least 3 minutes to no more than 10 minutes.

12. The powder coating composition of claim 11 further including: a pigment forming from about 6% by weight to about 35 by weight of the total mixture.

13. A powder coating composition which exclusive of a pigment and an antistatic agent comprises a mixture of:

(A) a copolymer of glycidyl compound and (1) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, and 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate; and (2) a modifying monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, alpha methyl styrene, acrylonitrile and methacrylonitri le, in such proportions as to obtain a copolymer having a glass transition temperature in the range of 40 C. to 90 C. and a molecular weight (M1) in the range of 2500 to 8500, said glycidyl compound being present in the copolymer from at least about 8% by weight to no more than 30% by weight, said modifying monomer being present in the copolymer from 0% by weight to no more than about 35% by weight;

(B) a cross linking agent containing 90 to 98% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, dicarboxylic acid containing 4-20 carbon atoms per molecule, and 10 to 2% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, monocarboxylic acid containing 1022 carbon atoms per molecule, the cross linking agent being present in the amount of 0.8 to 1.1 carboxylic groups for each epoxy group in the copolymer;

(C) a flow control agent forming at least 0.05 by weight of the mixture, said flow control agent being a polymer having a molecular weight (FL) of at least 1000 and being selected from the group consisting of polylauryl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, poly (2-ethyl-hexyl acrylate), polyisododecyl methacrylate, polylauryl methacrylate, and esters of polyethyleneglycol or polypropyleneglycol and fluorinated fatty acids; and

(D) a small weight percentage of a catalyst which results in a gel time for the powder coating composition at its baking temperature of at least 1 minute but no greater than 40 minutes.

14. The powder coating composition of claim 13 where in: a pigment is included which forms from about 6% by weight to about 35 by weight of the total mixture of the powder coating composition.

15. The powder coating composition of claim 13 wherein: said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid, undecandoic acid, and brassylic acid; and wherein said monocarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of lauric acid, tridecanoic acid, myristic acid, pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, margaric acid, and stearic acid.

16. A powder coating composition which exclusive of a pigment and an antistatic agent comprises a mixture of:

(A) a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and (1) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and (2) a modifying monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, alpha methyl styrene, acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile in such proportions as to obtain a copolymer having a glass transition temperature in the range of 50 C. to

C. and a molecular weight (fi in the range of 3000 to 6500, said glycidyl methacrylate being present in the copolymer from at least 10% by Weight to no more than 25% by weight, said modifiying 19 monomer being present in said copolymer from by weight to no more than about 35% by weight;

(B) a cross linking agent containing 90 to 98% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, dicarboxylic acid containing -13 carbon atoms per molecule, and to 2% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic monocarboxylic acid containing 1218 carbon atoms per molecule, the cross linking agent being present in the amount of 0.8 to 1.1 carboxylic groups for each epoxy group in the copolymer;

(C) a flow control agent forming at least about 0.05% by weight of the mixture, said flow control agent being a polymer having a molecular weight (fi of at least 1000 and being selected from the group consisting of polylauryl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, poly (2 ethyl-hexyl acrylate), polyisododecyl methacrylate, polylauryl methacrylate, and esters of polyethyleneglycol or polypropyleneglycol and fiuorinated fatty acids; and

(D) a small weight percentage of a catalyst sufficient to produce a gel time for the powder coating composition at its baking temperature of at least 1 minute but no greater than 40 minutes.

17. The powder coating composition of claim 16 wherein: a pigment is included which forms from about 6% by weight to about 35 by weight of the total mixture of the powder coating composition.

18. The powder coating composition of claim 16 wherein: said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of adipic acid and azelaic acid; and wherein said monocarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of lauric acid and stearic acid.

19. A powder coating composition which exclusive of a pigment and an antistatic agent comprises a mixture of:

(A) a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate, and (1) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and (2) a modifying monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, alpha methyl styrene, acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile in such proportions as to obtain a copolymer having a glass transition temperature in the range of 60 C. to 70 C. and a molecular weight (fi in the range of 3000 to 4000, said glycidyl methacrylate being present in the copolymer from at least about 12% by weight to no more than 23% by weight, said modifying monomer being present in said copolymer from 0% by weight to no more than about 35% by Weight;

(B) a cross linking agent containing 90 to 98% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, dicarboxylic acid containing 5-13 carbon atoms per molecule, and 10 to 2% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, mono carboxylic acid containing 1022 carbon atoms per molecule, the cross linking agent being present in the amount of 0.8 to 1.1 carboxylic groups for each epoxy group in the copolymer;

(C) a flow control agent forming at least about 0.05 by weight of the mixture, said flow control agent being a polymer having a molecular weight (M,,) of at least 1000 and being selected from the group consisting of polylauryl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, poly (2 ethyl-hexyl acrylate), polyisododecyl methacrylate, polylauryl methacrylate, and esters of polyethyleneglycol or polypropyleneglycol and fluorinated fatty acids; and

(D) a small weight percentage of a catalyst sufiicient to produce a gel time for the powder coating composition at its baking temperature of at least 1 minute but no greater than 10 minutes.

20. The powder coating composition of claim 19 wherein: a pigment is included which forms from about 6% by weight to about 35% by Weight of the total mixture.

21. The powder coating composition of claim 19 wherein: said dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of adipic acid and azelaic acid; and wherein said monocarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of lauric acid and stearic acid.

22.. The powder coating composition of claim 20 wherein: said mixture forming said powder coating composition has a particle size distribution of particles in the range from 10 microns to 100 microns.

23. The powder coating composition of claim 20 wherein: the size range of the particles forming the powder coating composition is in the range of 40 to 75 microns.

2.4. A powder coating composition which exclusive of a pigment and an antistatic agent comprises a mixture of:

(A) a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and (1) an ethylenically unsaturated monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, and (2) a modifiying monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, alpha methyl styrene, acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile in such proportions as to obtain a copolymer having a glass transition temperature in the range of 60 C. to 70 C. and a molecular weight (fi in the range of of 3000 to 4000, said glycidyl methacrylate being present in the copolymer in the range of about 15% by weight, said modifiying monomer being present in said copolymer from 0% by weight to no more than 35% by weight;

(B) a cross linking agent containing to 98% by equivalent weight of a dicarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of adipic acid and azelaic acid, and 10 to 2% by equivalent weight of a monocarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of lauric acid and stearic acid, the cross linking agent being present in the amount of 0.8 to 1.1 carboxylic groups for each epoxy group in the copolymer;

(C) a flow control agent forming at least about 0.05% by weight of the mixture, said fiow control agent being a polymer having a molecular weight (fi of at least 1000 and being selected from the group consisting of polylauryl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, poly (2 ethyl-hexyl acrylate), polyisododecyl methacrylate, polylauryl methacrylate, and esters of polyethyleneglycol or polypropyleneglycol and fluorinated fatty acids; and

(D) a small weight percentage of a catalyst which gives to the mixture a gel time at its baking temperature of at least 3 minutes but not in excess of 10 minutes.

25. The powder coating composition as defined in claim 24 wherein: 6% to about 35% by Weight of the mixture is made up of a pigment.

26. A powder coating composition which exclusive of a pigment and an antistatic agent comprises a mixture of (A) a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate, said glycidyl methacrylate being present in the copolymer from about 8% by weight to no more than about 30% by weight, said methyl methacrylate being present in the copolymer from about 15% by weight to about 52% by weight, with the balance of the copolymer being said butyl methacrylate, the copolymer having a glass transition temperature in the range of 40 C.

to 90 C. and a molecular weight (fi in the range of 2500 to 8500;

(B) a cross linking agent containing 90 to 98% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, dicarboxylic acid containing 420 carbon atoms per molecule, and 10 to 2% by equivalent weight of a saturated, straight chain, aliphatic, monocarboxylic acid containing l022 carbon atoms per molecule, the cross linking agent being present in the amount of 0.8 to 1.1 carboxylic groups for each epoxy group in the copolymer;

(C) a flow control agent forming at least 0.05% by weight of the mixture, said flow control agent being a polymer having a molecular weight (M of at least 1000 and being selected from the group consisting of polylauryl acrylate, polybutyl acrylate, poly (2 ethyl-hexyl acrylate), polyisododecyl methacrylate polylauryl methacrylate, and esters of polyethyleneglycol or polypropyleneglycol and fiuorinated fatty acids; and

(D) a small weight percentage of a catalyst sufficient to cause the coating composition mixture to have a gel time of at least 1 minute but no greater than 40 minutes.

27. The powder coating composition of claim 26 where in: the dicarboxylic acid contains 5 to 13 carbon atoms per molecule; and wherein the monocarboxylic acid contain 12 to 18 carbon atoms per molecule.

28. The powder coating composition of claim 26 wherein: 6% to 35% by weight of the mixture is a pigment.

22 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1958 Fang 260-332 10/ 1962 Fryling et a1 26043 8/ 1969 Plucddemann et a1. 260-37 12/1969 Childs 26037 3/1972 Fellers et a1 260--830 11/ 1970 Manasia et al 26037 5/1971 Isaksen et a1 117--161 DONALD E. CZAJA, Primary Examiner E. C. RZUCIDLO, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

117161 UT, 161 UC, 161 ZB; 260-l8 EP, 23 AR, 93.4 

